Leah Ofsevit's Fundraiser:

Celiac Disease Foundation NYC Marathon 2015

THE STORY:

My Celiac story begins back in the summer of 2009. I had just graduated from college and accepted a great job I couldn’t wait to start. I was on top of the world… except for the fact that I felt terrible. Bloating, gas, constipation—you name it, I had it. These symptoms had plagued me for over a year, and nothing I was doing seemed to make me feel any better. As an otherwise healthy young person, I felt defeated. I finally headed to my doctor’s office, and after a series of scans and blood tests, she sent me to see a gastroenterologist. In the meantime, I had traveled to California for a training program and was nervously calling back and forth to my parents in between workshops. As soon as I could, I flew home to Boston and took an hour long subway trek to get to the GI who had the earliest available appointment. In an appointment that totaled 15 minutes, he told me in no uncertain terms I had Celiac disease, shoved a pamphlet in my hands, informed me I needed to stop eating gluten immediately, and sent me packing.

Looking back, I ask myself so many questions. Did the doctor give me any information as to what led him to his diagnosis? He did not. Did he tell me that by beginning a gluten free diet immediately I would forever pass up the opportunity to get the kind of ultimately conclusive diagnosis I now know can only come from an endoscopic biopsy? He did not. Did he take the time to fully explain how this news would change nearly every decision I made at every meal I ate for the rest of my life? He did not.

This is my story. I’ll be damned if it’s anyone else’s. And this is where the Celiac Disease Foundation comes in. Time and time again, when I’m looking for the most reliable information and steadfast Celiac advocacy, I turn to the CDF. The work the CDF does on behalf of the Celiac community is remarkable, and I’m ready to do something remarkable for the CDF. I’m going to run my first marathon. And I would appreciate any support that you can offer.

Thank you, thank you, thank you—not just from me, but from the everyone living with Celiac—adults, kids, diagnosed and undiagnosed. Every dollar and every step bring us closer to finding a cure.

From the CELIAC DISEASE FOUNDATION:

For the past 25 years, CDF has driven early diagnosis and treatment of celiac disease through education, advocacy and advancing research to improve the quality of life for all people affected by gluten-related disorders. Celiac Disease Foundation brought together scientists and physicians to create today's celiac disease blood test panel, lobbied NIH and CDC to recognize celiac disease as one of the world's most prevalent genetic autoimmune disorders, lobbied the FDA for today's gluten-free labeling rule, and partnered with mainstream manufacturers to create today's multi-billion dollar gluten-free marketplace. CDF looks to the future to assure that all people with celiac disease and other gluten-related disorders are diagnosed and treated, and one day, cured.